Fuel Oil & LP Gas Dealers NAICS 457210

Feb 23, 2026 - LIHEAP Funding Boost?

• A House draft funding bill includes $4.045 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a modest $20 million increase from fiscal year 2025, Fuel Oil News reports. LIHEAP directly supports low‑income households that rely heavily on delivered fuels, helping them afford winter deliveries and reducing credit risk for dealers. If this funding level is finalized, states will receive their remaining 10% allocation plus the additional $20 million, improving cash flow for assistance programs during peak heating season. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to explain how it will manage LIHEAP operations following staffing cuts. Faster, more reliable fund distribution would help dealers receive timely payments from state agencies. Overall, while the increase is limited, it provides incremental stability for delivered‑fuel dealers serving financially vulnerable customers and helps mitigate bad‑debt exposure during a period of high household energy burdens.
• Heating costs are expected to rise 9.2% this winter, The New York Times reported in December, citing estimates from a group representing state energy officials. Rising winter energy costs amid reduced federal heating assistance create a challenging environment for home heating oil dealers. As electricity and natural gas prices surge and colder weather is forecast, some households may shift greater attention to managing overall heating expenses, potentially stabilizing or slightly increasing reliance on heating oil in regions where it remains competitive. However, the sharp reduction in federal aid for low‑income households heightens credit risk for dealers, who already carry significant customer receivables during winter months. More families falling behind on utility payments could lead to higher delinquency rates, tighter delivery schedules, and increased demand for budget plans or emergency deliveries. For oil dealers, this underscores the need for strong credit controls and customer‑payment management.

• Propane distributors looking to fill the driver shortage gap while potentially improving safety will want to consider an overlooked category: women drivers, LP Gas reports. Women are underrepresented in trucking in general, with a 2024 survey by the Women in Trucking Association finding that an average of 9.5% of all professional truck drivers who hold CDLs (commercial driver’s licenses) are women. Women tend to be very risk averse, decreasing their likelihood of being involved in a collision. Indeed, a study conducted by Auburn University Harbert College of Business from 2010 to 2022 found that male truck drivers were 13.2% more likely to have a major unsafe driving violation. Strategies for propane dealers to attract more women drivers include simply encouraging more women to apply, offering flexible schedules and protective equipment that fit women, and on-the-job opportunities for professional development and apprenticeship programs.
• Employment by fuel oil dealers was flat in November compared to a year ago, while average wages at gasoline stations and fuel dealers rose 3.4% over the same period to a new high of $18.78 per hour, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Sales and employment by fuel oil dealers are highly seasonal, peaking during the “winter heating season," (November through March) and bottoming out in the summer months. Employment by fuel dealers fell -5.8% over the past ten years, lower than the 12.5% growth in overall private employment.